May 1, 2026

Any employee who has worked at Bates for at least 120 days and has earned at least 6 times the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW = $1,199.00) in the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before your leave begins. The Hartford, our Leave Absence Management Administrator, will determine your eligibility for you.

Yes, this benefit still applies to you and is for you should you ever need to be away from work for any qualifying reason.

Yes. This leave applies to both staff, faculty, and even student workers.

Employees who are currently on a leave and will be on it through May 1, 2026 will continue their leave through Bates and will not need to transfer their leave over to The Hartford. Benefits will continue to manage your leave until your return to work.

You may be eligible to apply for ME PFML, but your benefit may be reduced by leave time used before May 1, 2026.

Yes. To fund this new, comprehensive benefit, starting May 1, 2026, Bates College will begin a payroll withholding of 0.4% of employee compensation (or, four dollars – $4 – for every $1,000 of compensation). This contribution—which is lower than the state cap of 0.5%— in partnership with the college’s contribution, is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the plan.

All employees, regardless of benefits eligibility, will be subject to this withholding.

Stay informed! Benefits will be holding both in-person and virtual informational sessions in April that you can attend to learn more about how ME PFML will work with your upcoming leave. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to benefits@bates.edu.